Josh Gad is a Tony-nominated actor who’s delighted audiences of all ages for the past 20 years—from his hilariously irreverent role in The Book of Mormon to his memorable performance as Olaf, everyone’s favorite snowman, in Disney’s Frozen. But in an alternative universe, he’d earn his keep by literally switching gears.
“I am Clark Griswold,” he says, referencing the Chevy Chase character in the iconic National Lampoon’s Vacation franchise. “I love family vacations. So I would love to make a living by introducing new sites and new experiences, new types of cuisine and new types of culture.”
And this summer, Gad is embarking on a vacation of his own, taking his family—actress wife Ida Darvish and daughters Ava, 14, and Isabella, 11—around the world. First stop? Driving around the scenic Mediterranean island of Malta. Then later, they’ll be hitting the road for a tour of Canada.
Of course, getting there is half the fun … and tends to be a total challenge. To keep the kids entertained throughout their journeys, Gad says they’ll be reading their favorite books on their Amazon Kindle Kids devices. “I love that we’re not schlepping 10 books on a road trip, because my daughters can just literally tap whatever book they want at any given time and have everything at their fingertips,” he says. “It’s like manna from heaven!”
Now he’s partnering with the company to launch its Kindle Kids Backseat Book Crew, a new virtual book club that helps young ones cultivate a love of reading, no matter where they are in the world. (To make it a true family affair, Gad’s kids are part of the Kindle Kids Backseat Book Crew ad campaign.) Speaking outside his home in Los Angeles, Gad talks about his love of road trips, favorite recent reads and more.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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Reader’s Digest: How do you decide each summer where you’re going to travel as a family?
Josh Gad: We always try to go someplace new. In general, I want our destinations to come with some sort of educational component. And a lot of times, that experience presents itself through history and art. I love natural beauty and national parks too, so we mix it up. So as much as we love Hawaii, I try not to just do beach vacations. Or it’s a beach vacation attached to something else.
Reader’s Digest: And as a road-trip expert, what’s your key to keeping the peace?
Josh Gad: My daughters have very strong opinions! So a lot of it is negotiations, even though that comes with conflict. But I’ve got the keys to the car. And they do end up enjoying themselves.
Reader’s Digest: Why is reading so clutch when you’re all in the car?
Josh Gad: Oh, a road trip is so much better when my kids are reading. For my wife and I, it’s great because we can listen to our favorite podcasts as we’re driving while they’re immersed in a book. Or if they’re getting drowsy, they’ll switch to an audiobook. I like that because they’re still consuming. So then everybody is happy. It’s not just empty calories like playing games or watching movies. They’re actually, like, engaging with literature. It’s the kind of screen time my wife and I can get behind.
Reader’s Digest: How does the Kindle Kids Backseat Book Crew work? Who’s making the suggestions?
Josh Gad: It’s not just an adult being like, “These are your choices.” It’s actually much more organic—kids are recommending books to other kids, and then you can engage with everyone in the club. When you join, you get a welcome kit that includes stickers, a patch and summer reading recommendations. I thought my kids were too old to enjoy it, but they were on the site for 30 minutes. So I think it’s going to be a good distraction for other kids too.
Reader’s Digest: What are your kids currently reading?
Josh Gad: My girls are reading so many different types of books, some of which I’ve never even heard of. I actually find myself picking up books that I would otherwise probably not read, like The Lightning Thief [by Rick Riordan] and the Percy Jackson series [also by Riordan].
Conversely, I found out that my children have a blind spot! So I just read James by Percival Everett and fell in love with it because it’s incredible. As I was talking about the book—which is a reimagining of Huck Finn—in front of my daughters, they told me that they’ve never read anything by Mark Twain. I was like, “Oh, we’re downloading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and we’re going read them as a family this summer and discuss.”
Reader’s Digest: Did you grow up reading in the backseat too?
Josh Gad: I suffered from extreme car sickness! I would get so sick that I couldn’t do anything in the backseat of the car. That’s why I’m now the designated driver on all our trips. I’m incredibly jealous of my daughters because they don’t have that issue. I also probably didn’t start reading for joy until I was about the age of 14. It always felt like work. My mom had to beg me to read.
Reader’s Digest: And what’s on tap after your summer adventures? Can we talk about the Spaceballs sequel?
Josh Gad: I can only tell you what you already know, which is, yes, the movie is happening and is coming out theatrically in 2027. It’s going into production very soon, and that’s probably all I can say without Amazon lawyers descending from this tent that I have outside my home. I will also say that as a student of Mel Brooks from the age of 4, I think my whole life has kind of led to this. My earliest memory of literally falling out of my seat and laughing at something was Young Frankenstein, when the monster dances to “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” So, yeah, we’re really excited and have something fun in store for all the fans.
Reader’s Digest: Time for a few quick hits: Dogs or cats?
Josh Gad: Dogs.
Reader’s Digest: Do you have a favorite comfort food?
Josh Gad: I love a good slice of pizza.
Reader’s Digest: Would you rather time-travel to the past or future?
Josh Gad: Past. I’m a student of history and a bit fascinated by the Renaissance. I would also love to visit the Middle Ages without maybe being seen.
Reader’s Digest: What’s your advice to your younger self?
Josh Gad: Patience is a virtue. Embrace the virtue!
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